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One in 20 of Britain’s beaches are set to fail tougher EU cleanliness tests, according to figures released by the government.
Data from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) shows that only 94.5 per cent of beaches are set to pass more stringent European Bathing Water Directive tests, which come into force next year.
The figure is down from a 99.5 per cent pass rate for beaches around the UK meeting lower standard of the current Bathing Water Directive test.
More than 20 beaches are not projected to make the grade next year, and will be marked as “poor” unless water quality improves.
Water quality in these areas can be marked down if there are “short term pollution events”, whereby sewers discharge into the sea following periods of heavy rainfall, as well as other pollution problems, such as poorly treated sewerage being discharged.
The Defra figures show the number of beaches which reached bathing water Directive levels for cleanliness increased from 98.8 per cent in 2013 to 99.5 per cent this year in England.
The number in England that would meet the tougher 2015 levels fell from 83.5 per cent in 2013, to 80.7 per cent for 2014.
In Wales all beaches tested met the mandatory level of cleanliness, although only 88.1 per cent of these achieved the higher standard.
In Scotland 97.5 per cent passed the current bathing water tests, and 95.7 per cent of beaches in Northern Ireland made the grade, but these fell to 55.6 per cent and 69.6 per cent respectively for the tougher 2015 targets.
Water Minister Dan Rogerson said: “We know meeting the tough new targets is going be a challenge but that is why we are doing everything we can to help prepare.
“Everyone has an important role to play from a range of sectors to local government and the communities they represent.”
A statement from Water UK said: “Water companies care passionately about the state of beaches in their region and ensure the water that gets returned to the environment is as clean as possible under sometimes very challenging conditions.
“The companies will continue to work hard to ensure beaches are kept clean, working with partners in seaside towns and villages, and investing billions of pounds each year.”
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